Cutting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present cutting apparatus has a frame structure which supports a cutting roller and a counter pressure roller whereby the latter is preferably arranged below the cutting roller. The longitudinal axes of both rollers extend in parallel to each other, however, at an angle relative to the longitudinal feed advance direction of material to be cut. The cutting roller carries on its outer surface a strip steel cutting knife which extends helically relative to a normal to the feed advance direction. The helical knife shape compensates for the angular position of the rollers so that a cut will extend perpendicularly to the feed advance direction whereby the cut is performed as a scissor cut.

United States Patent Spengler Jan. 14, 1975 CUTTING APPARATUS 3,552,251 1/1971 Nefi et al 83/342 x Inventor: Ernst M. p g Heusenstamm, 3,566,734 3/1971 Robinson 83/346 X G ermany Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost gneei gtanztlechlgk Gmbgl speller & Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfgang G. Fasse; Williard peng er, ergenn cm, W R b Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 338,342 The present cutting apparatus has a frame structure which supports a cutting roller and a counter pressure roller whereby the latter is preferably arranged below [30] Foreign Apphcauon Prim-"y Data the cutting roller. The longitudinal axes of both rollers Mar. 8, 1972 Germany 2211118 extend in parallel to each other however at an angle relative to the longitudinal feed advance direction of [52] US. Cl 83/155, 83/342, 83/346 material to be Cut The cutting roller carries on its [51] Int. Cl B26d 1/28 Outer surface a Strip Steel cutting knife which extends [58] Fleld'of Search 83/342 346; helically relative to a normal to the feed advance di- 83/155 rection. The helical knife shape compensates for the y angular position of the rollers so that a cut will extend [56] References C'ted perpendicularly to the feed advance direction whereby UNITED STATES PATENTS the cut is performed as a scissor cut. 3,056,323 10/1962 Kwitek 83/342 3,192,809 7/1965 Crouch et a1. 83/346 x 3 D'awmg F'gures PATENTED JAN 1 41975 SHEET 1 OF 2 PATENTEB JAN 1 41975 SHEET 2 OF 2 I CUTTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus having a frame structure which supports a cutting roller as well as at least one counter pressure roller and drive means for these rollers. At least one cutting knife edge, such as a strip steel knife edge, is attached to the cutting roller so that the knife edge extends radially out of the outer circumference of the cutting roller.

US. Pat. No. 3,566,734 granted to Charles Robinson and issued on Mar. 2, 1971, discloses a rotary cutting machine. These machines are also referred to as rotary stamping machines and are used for example, for cutting blanks from webs of fabrics in the production of ready made clothing. The pressures required for these rotary stamping devices are rather high, especially if the lines of cut extend perpendicularly to the feed advance direction of the material to be cut. This is due to I OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is the aim of the invention to achieve the following objects singly or in combination:

to provide a cutting apparatus which is capable to achieve cutting lines extending perpendicularly to the direction of feed advance without the need for high cutting pressures;

to avoid subjecting the cutting apparatus to large vibrations, so that wear and tear will be minimized and the operational useful life of the apparatus will be increased;

to provide a cutting apparatus capable of cutting by means of a rotary cutting roller a out which will extend perpendicularly to the feed advance direction of the material 'to be cut although the knives do not extend perpendicularly to the feed advance direction; and

to provide a cutting apparatus which is capable of cutting through a plurality of layers, for example fabric layers, without requiring large driving forces whereby each roller including the cutting roller and the counter roller or rollers may be driven positively and individually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a cutting apparatus with a cutting roller and a counter roller, wherein the axis of the cutting roller extends at an angle deviation of 90 :L a relative to the feed advance direction of the material to be cut, and wherein the cutting means, for example a strip steel knife edge, has a the axis of the cutting roller as the latter includes with the normal to the feed advance direction. This teaching of the invention has the advantage that a cut extending perpendicularly to the feed advance direction is not produced any more instantaneously and simultaneously across the entire width of the fabric but rather in a gradual fashion much like a scissor cut. This result of the invention reduces the required driving forces which in turn result in muchsmaller bearing forces than heretofore, especially in the bearings of the cutting roller and in the bearings of the counter pressure roller.

Preferably, according to the invention, the axis of the cutting roller and the axis of the counter pressure roller extend in parallel to each other so that both axes include the same angle with the normal to the feed advance direction of the material to be cut.

BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a rotary stamping apparatus or cutting apparatus according to the invention and including a counter pressure roller;

FIG. 2 is a top view onto the cutting apparatus according to FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 shows a partial sectional view through a cutting roller along the sectional line III-III in FIG. 2

' whereby the illustration in FIG. 3 is on a slightly enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of an ap-. paratus according to the invention having an endless belt which acts as the counter pressure means and which is supported by a counter pressure roller; and

FIG. 5 is a top view onto the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED FIGURE DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment according to the invention including a cutting apparatus 1 comprising a frame structure 2 for supporting a cutting roller 3 and a counter pressure roller 4. The frame structure 2 further supports guide rollers 5 and 6 for conveyor belts 7 and 8 which have an upper run advancing in the direction of the arrow P which is the direction of feed advance of the material to be cut as the material (not, shown) moves from the supply conveyor 7 through the machine to the discharge conveyor 8.

The axis 9 of the cutting roller 3 and the axis 10 of the counter pressure roller 4 are arranged according to the invention at an angle relative to the feed advance direction as best seen in FIG. 2. This angle a deviates from the normal to the feed advance direction and both rollers 3 and 4 are arranged to include with their rotational axes the same angle deviation relative to the normal to the feed advance direction so that both axes 9 and 10 extend in the same plane and parallel to each other. A

Knife means 11 are secured to the circumference of the cutting roller 3. These knife means 11 may be strip steel knife edges which are attached to the surface of the cutting roller 3, for example by knife holding means 12 which may be individual angle iron pieces riveted, for example to the knife edge 11, and welded to the roller 3. The knives may also be inserted into grooves of the roller 3 and held in these grooves by means well known in the art. a

As best seen in FIG. 3, the knife edge 11 has such a helical shape along the surface of the cutting roller 3 that the developed projection is a straight line which includes with the axis 9 of the cutting roller 3 the same angle as said axis includes with the normal to the feed advance direction P. Thus, as seen in the top view of FIG. 2, the knife edge 11 extends exactly perpendicularly to the feed advance direction P because the angular position of the cutting roller 3 relative to the feed advance direction P is exactly compensated by the angular or rather helical arrangement of the knife edge 11 on the circumferential surface of the cutting roller 3.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 operates as follows. The cutting roller 3 is positively driven counterclockwise by conventional drive means not shown. Similarly, the counter pressure roller 4 may be positively driven byrespective drive means. The rotation and the feed advance in combination with the slanted arrangementof the rollers and the helical shape of the cutting edge results in a cut in the range a. The cut begins at point 13 and ends at point 14 for the shown feed advance direction and assuming, as stated above, that the cutting roller rotates counterclockwise. Nevertheless, the cut edge of the fabric will extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal edge of the fabric.

FIG. 3 illustrates apartial section at a slightly larger scale through the cutting roller 3 whereby the section extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the cutting roller 3. It will be noted that the knife 11 has a helical shape along the circumferential surface of the cutting roller 3 and each point along the cutting edge is located on a radius of the roller. In other words, the knife edge extends radially away from the roller 3. The knife holders in form of little angles or little holding blocks are not shown in FIG. 3, however, the knives could also be inserted in grooves of the roller 3 as shown in FIG. 3. j t

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the counter pressure means comprise instead of the counter pressure roller a counter pressure endless band or belt 17 which is supported by guide rollers 14 and as well as by a center support roller 18 having a longitudinal rotational axis 19. This axis 19 is also arranged according to the invention at an angle to the normal of thefeed advance direction P so that the axis 20 of the cutting roller-21 and the axis 19 of the support roller 18 are again located in parallel to each other and in the same plane. This arrangement has the advantage that it minimizes the gap between the feed-in conveyor and the discharge conveyor, in other words, the supporting surface can be made as large as possible with I the aid of the endless band 1 7 and the rollers l4, l5 and A tensioning roller 16 is also supported in the frame structure and may be positively driven. The supporting band 17 may be made of a suitable material, such as a plastic material or of a sheet or web of steel. The support band 17 is driven with the same speed as the feedin and discharge conveyors which preferably corresponds to the circumferential rotational speed of the knife 22 at the time of the cutting action.

As mentioned, the advantage of the supporting band may be kept small, in addition the gaps may be covered with a covering strip as seen in FIG. 4 between the roller 15 and the discharge conveyor.

In view of the above description of the present invention it will be appreciated that the present teaching is also applicable where knife edges extend in the direction of feed advance or at any desirable angle relative to said feed advance direction. Therefore, it will be appreciated that it is intended to cover all modifications and equivalents of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for cutting workpieces which advance in a given direction through the apparatus which has a frame structure, a cutting roller, means for supporting the cutting roller in said frame structure, counter pressure means, means for supporting the counter pressure means in said frame structure for cooperation with said cutting roller, strip steel knife means secured to said cutting roller to extend substantially radially away from said cutting roller, said cutting roller having an axis extending at an angle deviation from the normal to said advance direction and wherein said strip steel knife means are secured to said cutting roller so that the knife means follow a helix around the cutting roller, whereby said deviating angle is compensated to accomplish a scissor type cut, the improvement wherein said counter pressure means comprise an endless belt, guide roller means for said endless belt supported in said frame structure, said guide roller means having rotational axes extending in parallel to each other, a supporting roller located intermediate said guide roller means in said frame structure and under said endless belt in contact therewith, said supporting roller having an axis extending in parallel to said cutting roller axis and thus slanting at said angle deviation relative to said advance direction, said endless belt extending through a gap between said two rollers, said guide roller means extending at right angles to said advance direction, and at said angle deviation relative to the supporting roller and cutting roller axes, whereby the endless belt extends insaid advance direction, said guide roller means being closely spaced from each other to leave just enough space for said support-- ing roller therebetween in its slanting position, said apparatus further comprising delivery conveyor means arranged downstream and immediately adjacent to said endless belt.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developed projection of said knife means is a straight line which has the same angle deviation relative to said cutting roller axis as the cutting roller axis has'relative to the normal to said advance direction, whereby the resulting cut will extend perpendicularly to said advance direction.

3. An apparatus for cutting flat material into completely separate pieces, comprising first feed-in conveyor means for advancing said flat material in a given direction, a frame structure located downstream relative to said first conveyor means, second delivery conveyor means located downstream of said frame structure, said first conveyor means having a first guide roller located upstream relative to said frame structure,

said second conveyor means having a second guide roller located downstream relative to said frame structure, a cutting roller rotatably supported in said frame structure above and intermediate said first and second guide rollers, strip steel knife means secured to' said cutting roller to extend substantially radially away from the cutting roller and helically around the cutting roller, a counter pressure roller rotatably supported in said frame structure below said cutting roller and intermediate said first and second guide rollers so that the tops of said first and second guide rollers and the top of said counter pressure roller are substantially at the same level, said counter pressure roller and said cutting roller having axes extending in parallel to each other but at a deviating angle relative to the normal to said given direction, said strip steel knife means having a developed projection which is a straight line extending at the same deviating angle relative to said cutting roller axis, as the cutting roller axis has relative to the normal to said given direction, said downstream and upstream guide rollers extending in parallel to each other and perpendicularly to said given direction whereby said axes of the cutting roller and of the counter pressure roller also extend with said deviating angle relative to ting roller and said counter pressure roller. 

1. In an appAratus for cutting workpieces which advance in a given direction through the apparatus which has a frame structure, a cutting roller, means for supporting the cutting roller in said frame structure, counter pressure means, means for supporting the counter pressure means in said frame structure for cooperation with said cutting roller, strip steel knife means secured to said cutting roller to extend substantially radially away from said cutting roller, said cutting roller having an axis extending at an angle deviation from the normal to said advance direction and wherein said strip steel knife means are secured to said cutting roller so that the knife means follow a helix around the cutting roller, whereby said deviating angle is compensated to accomplish a scissor type cut, the improvement wherein said counter pressure means comprise an endless belt, guide roller means for said endless belt supported in said frame structure, said guide roller means having rotational axes extending in parallel to each other, a supporting roller located intermediate said guide roller means in said frame structure and under said endless belt in contact therewith, said supporting roller having an axis extending in parallel to said cutting roller axis and thus slanting at said angle deviation relative to said advance direction, said endless belt extending through a gap between said two rollers, said guide roller means extending at right angles to said advance direction, and at said angle deviation relative to the supporting roller and cutting roller axes, whereby the endless belt extends in said advance direction, said guide roller means being closely spaced from each other to leave just enough space for said supporting roller therebetween in its slanting position, said apparatus further comprising delivery conveyor means arranged downstream and immediately adjacent to said endless belt.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developed projection of said knife means is a straight line which has the same angle deviation relative to said cutting roller axis as the cutting roller axis has relative to the normal to said advance direction, whereby the resulting cut will extend perpendicularly to said advance direction.
 3. An apparatus for cutting flat material into completely separate pieces, comprising first feed-in conveyor means for advancing said flat material in a given direction, a frame structure located downstream relative to said first conveyor means, second delivery conveyor means located downstream of said frame structure, said first conveyor means having a first guide roller located upstream relative to said frame structure, said second conveyor means having a second guide roller located downstream relative to said frame structure, a cutting roller rotatably supported in said frame structure above and intermediate said first and second guide rollers, strip steel knife means secured to said cutting roller to extend substantially radially away from the cutting roller and helically around the cutting roller, a counter pressure roller rotatably supported in said frame structure below said cutting roller and intermediate said first and second guide rollers so that the tops of said first and second guide rollers and the top of said counter pressure roller are substantially at the same level, said counter pressure roller and said cutting roller having axes extending in parallel to each other but at a deviating angle relative to the normal to said given direction, said strip steel knife means having a developed projection which is a straight line extending at the same deviating angle relative to said cutting roller axis, as the cutting roller axis has relative to the normal to said given direction, said downstream and upstream guide rollers extending in parallel to each other and perpendicularly to said given direction whereby said axes of the cutting roller and of the counter pressure roller also extend with said deviating angle relative to said guide rollers, said first And second guide rollers being spaced from each other just enough to provide a sufficient space for the counter pressure roller and the cutting roller to extend at said deviating angle relative to said guide rollers, and wherein said feed-in conveyor and said delivery conveyor define a conveying plane extending substantially through a gap between said cutting roller and said counter pressure roller. 